I was infuriated.
It was the first time in my life that this word resonated with me so perfectly.
Rox stood up while groaning and wiped the blood seeping from his mouth with his fingers. Felter was laughing with his shoulders shaking.
A few meters in front of them were Shenley, trembling on the ground, and Cote, bleeding from his leg.
This was neither a child's quarrel nor mere bullying. Such words were far too gentle to describe it.
I immediately placed my hand on Shenley's shoulder, infused mana into her, and said, "[Healing Water, Care]."
The healing magic began to mend Shenley's body from the inside out.
The minor abrasions, bruises, and visible wounds healed. Next, I moved to Cote, who looked battered and bruised.
"[Water of Life, Ordwyle]."
I held both of his shoulders to support him, infused my mana, and activated the healing spell. Even if his internal organs had suffered significant damage, this should fully heal him.
Cote's injuries healed rapidly, and he looked down at his leg in amazement.
"You’re alright now."
After confirming his condition, I turned back to Rox and Felter. "Explain why you did this. Even if it started as a fight, injuring others is wrong."
Rox snorted, laughed, and pointed at me. "Are you saying that even royalty is guilty if they harm commoners?"
"Of course. Are you stupid? A king who kills commoners without reason or justice won’t last long. If a king ignores the hearts of the people, the country will decline."
Rox laughed out loud. "You fool! Who judges a king? How can our Verted Kingdom, the greatest among the Six Great Nations, ever decline?"
Rox continued laughing, while Cote and Shenley looked down in frustration.
I tilted my head at their reactions and shrugged. "No nation in history is eternal, right? Tyrants cannot reign for long. Their future is usually miserable."
I brought up history to make my point. The Six Great Nations had a history that spanned only a few hundred years. Before them, there seemed to be three powerful countries that had lasted only a few hundred years.
Just like on Earth, nothing humans created lasted forever.
But Rox didn't understand. "Don’t compare our country to the common rabble! Without understanding the governance of the Verted Kingdom, you dare to mock it! You should be ashamed of your ignorance!"
"I acknowledge my ignorance. So, to learn about the greatness of the Verted Kingdom, I would like to ask you, do you believe you possess common sense and decency?"
Rox proudly patted his chest and nodded grandly. "Of course. I have received education from the talents, court magicians, and knights of the Verted Kingdom, and I have top grades at this academy. I am a testament to the greatness of our nation."
Hearing his confident statement, I sighed deeply. "If this is your level, the Verted Kingdom won’t last long. It’s unfortunate."
Rox instantly converted his anger into a charge and rushed at me.
He probably thought he could win in a physical fight because I was a woman.
What an underestimation.
As I prepared to counter, Rox pulled out a glimmering object from inside his clothes.
It was a dagger with a blade length of about fifty centimeters. There were magical engravings adorning the surface of the blade, indicating it was a high-quality item.
"You’ll regret this! [Five Spears of Flame, Fifth Crimson]!"
The moment Rox infused his mana, a multi-layered magic circle appeared at his hand, and five flaming spears materialized in front of him.
The air warped from the heat, making Rox’s smile behind the spears appear distorted.
"Take this!"
The magic was unleashed.
The flaming spears shot towards me in the blink of an eye.
However, as the spears approached, they exploded and burst into flames. A wall of fire rose before me, scorching everything around me.
The intensity of the attack was that of lower-advanced magic. But if the spears had come separately, it would have been a threat at the special-grade level.
A royal family heirloom, perhaps. Against an ordinary foe, this magical tool could decisively end the battle.
Rox seemed confident in his victory and spoke from behind the wall of fire. "Hmph, pathetic. This is what happens when you defy me."
Hearing his laughter, I sighed and cast my own spell. "[Ice Wall, Frost Edge]."
The moment I infused my mana, a pool of water formed at my feet and spread rapidly.
The water rippled and surged, forming columns of water that engulfed the wall of fire and froze it solid.
"What… How…"
As the frozen wall of fire shattered, Rox stood there, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Rox Kilbegan-kun." I called his name.
Rox flinched visibly.
He likely hadn’t expected his spell to be broken. He seemed unable to speak.
I said, "Using such powerful magic to injure fellow students and even attack a teacher, this is a serious matter."
Rox clicked his tongue in frustration, and a bead of cold sweat ran down his forehead, showing he was more mentally shaken than I had expected.
I smiled gently at Rox and stated clearly, "We will have a three-way meeting."
Rox only looked puzzled.
"What are you planning? You monster!" Rox shouted, trying to mask his fear with anger, his face twisted like a beast.
Deepening my smile, I stepped onto the frozen pool at my feet.
With a loud crack, the ice shattered.
I straightened my gaze at Rox, my smile gone. "I will call your parents here for a proper lecture. Be prepared. Whether they are kings or emperors, there is no mercy for parents who fail to teach their children properly."
Rox's smile faltered, and realizing I wasn't joking, his expression turned pale.